1) You will need an insulated sleeping pad and some clothing layers to keep comfortable down to your bag's temperature rating.

2) Learn how to properly close and cinch your bag around your body to retain heat.

3) Store your bag by hanging it - not crammed in the stuff sack. This keeps the fill from getting compressed and losing its insulating power.

Featured Trail

Ute Peak #24 - Colorado

Rating: Moderate

The Ute Peak Trail offers some of the best views of the Gore Range available. Approximately 2.55 miles from the trailhead you will come to a trail intersection. Turning left will take you into the Sulphur Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest and on into the Williams Fork River drainage.

To continue on the Ute Peak Trail take the right fork. Continue on the Ute Peak Trail for approximately 2.35 miles to Ute Peak, elevation 12,303 feet. Approximately .54 miles from Ute Peak you will come to the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness boundary.

Approximately .71 miles past the Wilderness boundary you will come to the intersection with the Acorn
Creek Trail (FDT 71). This trail will take you west toward CO HWY 9. The trail will become steeper and less obvious toward treeline and above as you continue on toward Ptarmigan Peak, elevation 12,498 feet, approximately 6.68 miles further south from Acorn Creek. At Ptarmigan Peak you will intersect with the Ptarmigan Trail (FDT 35) which will take you southwest to the town of Silverthorne.

Important Information:
BECAUSE THIS TRAIL TRAVELS INTO THE PTARMIGAN PEAK WILDERNESS NO BICYCLES ARE ALLOWED PAST THE WILDERNESS BOUNDARY AND DOGS MUST BE ON A LEASH NOT LONGER THAN SIX (6) FEET IN LENGTH! WITHIN THE PTARMIGAN PEAK WILDERNESS, NO CAMPFIRES ARE ALLOWED ABOVE TREELINE NOR WITHIN .25 MILES (440 YARDS) OF ANY LAKE.

There is limited water on this hike so bring plenty of water with you!
Since most of this trail travels above treeline, beware of the lightning danger during afternoon storms.
PACK IT IN - PACK IT OUT!! LEAVE NO TRACE!!